Background:

Historically, the gray wolf roamed throughout most of North America and had the most extensive range of any terrestrial mammal. In the last 400 years though, wolf populations have been decimated as a direct result of pressure and persecution from humans. Hundreds of thousands of wolves have been trapped, poisoned and hunted in a misguided and often times hateful response to declines in ungulates and predation on livestock. In fact, the species has been extirpated from most of its historical range.

Today, the resource extraction, ranching and hunting industries pour vast amounts of money into lobbying efforts to ensure wolves are legally allowed to be killed. Despite best efforts by conservationists, animal protection organizations and the general public, the species is exploited on an unprecedented level.

In British Columbia, wolves are trapped, hunted and shot from helicopters as scapegoats for the decline in endangered mountain caribou. Meanwhile, it’s business as usual for the industries truly responsible for pushing caribou to the brink of extinction. In most parts of the province, bag limits and hunting seasons do not exist for the species.

For 5 years Wildlife Defence League has campaigned to end the government-sponsored, taxpayer-funded wolf cull and for genuine mountain caribou protections as part of our Never Cry Wolf Initiative.

campaign expansion:

We have now expanded our Never Cry Wolf Initiative to address hunting, trapping and other forms of exploitation the species faces. Our campaign includes advocacy, education, outreach and fieldwork.

GOAL:

To encourage a more ethical, humane and science-based approach to wolf conservation and wolf management.

“We have doomed the wolf not for what it is, but for what we deliberately and mistakenly perceive it to be – the mythologized epitome of a savage ruthless killer – which is, in reality, no more than a reflected image of our self.” ― Farley Mowat, Never Cry Wolf